Re: [CR] [Baines] Flying Gate

(Example: Framebuilders:Alberto Masi)

Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:15:23 -0500
From: "Harvey Sachs" <hmsachs@verizon.net>
To: <crumpy6204@aol.com>, Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: Re: [CR] [Baines] Flying Gate


Well, John, Let me assure you that I don't have one, and won't have one. I'm not necessarily opposed to ornament (I do, for example, have a Hetchins), but to me the Flying Gate is a triumph of patient labor over common sense or sound engineering. It "allows" one to make and finish seven more brazed joints than a conventional design needs, and every one of those takes time and costs money. If you just enlarge the first picture, and lay a piece of paper parallel to the stub seat tube, the flying gate design hasn't moved the seat more than an inch forward of the normal position (the edge of the paper as straight edge intersects the down tube just barely forward of the BB). And using the same trick, there's a couple of inches between where the front edge of the rear tire would intersect the back of the extended seat tube if it were extended.

My guess is that this, like the "curly" stay Hetchins and the "Cantiflex" with "diadrant" (?) recurved forks was an effort to do almost anything to make your brand identifiable in races where no brand markings were allowed. Or did the makers actually believe their hype?

BTW, one list member has an Andy Hamel with similar layout, but fully lugless.

But, it gets lots of Funk points, something I've always cherished.

harvey sachs, feeling downright curmudgeonly mcLean va.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++ John Crump wrote: Item#300364710017 Baines Flying gate. Looking at the photo and having NEVER ridden one. What was gained by the design? the fork rake on this older one would negate I would think any advantage of the frame design.The point of the saddle must be way behind the bottom bracket.with the long top tube and sitting so far back.steering the bloody thing must have been a chore. OR am I wrong as usual? lets hear from you CR members who have one, Maybe Dave Moulton could comment on this, I understand the reason for the design was to shorten the wheelbase? would this be an advantage in climbing? Cheers John Crump OldandstretchedoutenoughBrit, Parker. Co USA